Vijai Sardessai and Vijay Pai Khot out of Congress list
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The Congress Party kicked out two “Vijays” at the last minute when it finally declared candidates for the remaining four constituencies just a day before of filing of nominations on Sunday.
The Congress Party has released the list of candidates for Mormugao — Sankalp Amonkar, Fatorda — M K Sheikh, Sanvordem — Govind Sawant and Canacona — Isidore Fernandes even as until Saturday there were talks between Congress and NCP to swap Canacona.
The GPCC General Secretary Vijai Sardessai who was poised to get a ticket for Fatorda and who had been active in the constituency for over two years however, did not make it to the final list. This was rather surprising as the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Monday last had made a bold statement that “nobody would dare deny a ticket to the GPCC General Secretary for the Fatorda seat”.
The statement was taken as an assurance from the chief minister that the candidature of Sardesai was almost cleared and it was just a matter of time before his name was declared.
The All Goa Muslim Forum wanted Saifullah but since Amonkar was drafted in from the Youth Congress quota, M K Sheikh has been fielded in Fatorda to neutralse Vijai
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and fill the demand for Muslim representation.
And though the chief minister was in favour of Amonkar, it is learnt that he made it to the list rubbishing all speculations in the last few days that he would not get the ticket.
The continuous pressure from the Youth Congress and by Sankalp Amonkar — including the silent backing of the Alemaos — influenced the two seats of Fatorda and Mormugao.
Canacona MLA Vijay Pai Khot who quit the BJP on Friday and after patiently waiting for a year for an assurance from the Congress, could not secure a Congress ticket though he was backed by the chief minister. On the other hand Isidore Fernandes who had backing of Taleigao MLA Babush Monserrate was chosen by the party.
The Congress is contesting thirty-three seats while seven have been assigned to its alliance partner NCP.
